Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, all businesses that are open to the public, including restaurants, hotels, theaters and even taxi cabs, are prohibited from discriminating against people with service animals and must allow those service animals into whatever business areas customers are generally allowed in.

Additionally, New Jersey has a discrimination law that stipulates people with disabilities must be permitted to bring their service animals into all public accommodations.

Nevertheless, some Garden State businesses have reportedly not allowed people with disabilities to enter with a service dog.

Why don't they know?

Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker, D-Essex, said when she became aware this was happening at a local restaurant, “I was just amazed that they didn’t know, had not had the proper training in reference to service dogs and people with disabilities.”

She did not identify the business but said “I was just really upset, because how can they not know that they’re supposed to service this family.”

Airlines Service Animals
AP
loading...

In response, she is sponsoring legislation, A862, that requires employees of any public place be trained about how individuals with disabilities with service animals are to be treated.

She said it’s important to not only train employees about existing laws, but also to call on them to treat individuals with service animals with respect.

Tucker said her measure calls for the labor commissioner to create a pamphlet that outlines the rights of someone with disabilities to have a guide or service dog in a public place, and employers would be required to distribute the pamphlet to their employees.

"If we get any complaints we can take it further with the business," she said.

The pamphlet would include a list of topics that should be included in employee training.

While counterfeit service dog vests can be easily purchased online, Tucker pointed out that bona fide service animals should have a certificate of training for their dog.

She said an employer may satisfy the training requirement by utilizing a training program from the Division on Civil Rights within the Department of Law and Public Safety, the New Jersey State Bar Association, or any other entity.

The Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee has advanced the measure, which now goes before the full Lower House.

David Matthau is a reporter for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at david.matthau@townsquaremedia.com

Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story.

2022 Seaside Heights Polar Bear Plunge photos

More than 6,000 people took the plunge into the Atlantic Ocean on Feb. 26, 2022 to raise more than $2 million for the Special Olympics New Jersey.

Best coffee shops & cafes near NJ beaches

When it comes to food, New Jersey is known for many things such as pizza and pork roll. Don't count us out when it comes to coffee.

With all the hustle and bustle involved in the average New Jersey resident's day, coffee is essential. It doesn't matter whether you're living in the cities of North Jersey or the vacation spots at the shore.

In fact, as the former owner of two Jersey shore coffee houses, Coffee Dot Comedy in Sea Isle City and the Daily Grind in Ocean Grove, I know firsthand how much people at the Jersey shore love their coffee.

With respect to that, I asked my social media following where the best coffee houses at the Jersey Shore were, especially since my two places no longer exist.

Below is what they came up with. (And see this other article for their coffee shop and cafe recommendations for Central Jersey.)

The Ultimate Guide to New Jersey Brewpubs

From the website that gave you the "Friendliest bars" and places to watch the game, comes the ultimate guide to New Jersey brewpubs.

So what's a "brew pub"?

According to Thompson Island's Article on the differences between a craft brewery, microbrewery, brewpub & gastropub, it says:
 
"A brewpub is a hybrid between a restaurant and a brewery. It sells at least 25% of its beer on-site in combination with significant food services. At a brewpub, the beer is primarily brewed for sale inside the restaurant or bar. Where it's legally allowed, brewpubs may sell beer to go or distribute it to some offsite destinations."

New Jersey has tons of Brewpubs, some of which have been around for years and some that have just opened in the past year.

Here is a full list of the 21 brewpubs in New Jersey according to New Jersey Craft Beer:

More From 105.7 The Hawk